Nonbreeding adult

Breeding adult

Breeding adult

Snowy Plover

Identification

Small, pale plover with broken black collar. In breeding plumage, black ear patch distinctive. Thin black bill separates from other small plovers at all times of year. Long grayish legs. Found on coastal and inland sandy beaches; can be seen singly or in small loose flocks. Quickly darts around searching for invertebrates in the sand.